Every year, the holiday season seems to begin earlier, but sadly, the number of original Christmas specials diminishes with each passing season. Gone are the prime-time musical extravaganzas, brightly colored sweaters and fake, snow-filled sets. I never thought I would admit this, but I miss the Kathie Lee Gifford Christmas specials. They were a hoot and a critic’s delight. Every year they aired, they arrived like a gift-wrapped package just waiting to be torn apart.

Into this sad void steps “Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular” (8 p.m., VH1), a variety show of parodies, sketches, cartoons and man-in-the-street interviews conducted by the “Git R Done” stand-up comic with a “Blue Collar Comedy” resume and a penchant for redneck humor. “A Christmas Carol” sketch features visits from the ghosts of Christmas past (Jamie Kennedy), present (Penn Jillette) and future (Carrot Top). Look for the first-ever comedy roast of Santa Claus.

Unlike most Christmas specials, this one make no efforts to hide the fact that it was taped in August, or that it took place at a Nevada casino. Look for raunchy comedy from Flavor Flav, Lisa Lampanelli, George Wendt and others.

Other Christmas-themed programming includes the 1970 animated special “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (7 p.m., ABC), featuring the voice of Fred Astaire.

On the comedy series “House of Payne” (9 p.m., TBS), the recurring character of Madea (series creator Tyler Perry) returns to teach Curtis (Levan Davis) the spirit of the holidays. And let’s not forget the 2001 TV-movie “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (7 p.m., Family), starring Connie Sellecca and Corbin Bernsen.

¢ Movie stars gather to laud one of their own on “Julia Roberts – An American Cinematheque Tribute” (7 p.m., AMC). Look for anecdotes and praise from a party full of A-listers, including Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Sally Field and Roberts’ “Pretty Woman” co-star Richard Gere, and that movie’s director, Garry Marshall.

¢ The joystick history series “Rise of the Videogame” (7 p.m., Discovery) enters Level Three with a look at the growing sophistication in effects that brought 3-D animation to games like “Doom” and “Return to Castle Wolfenstein.” The enhanced realism and increasingly violent content also brought a new level of criticism and concern about video gaming and its effects on young players.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ An awkward dinner date on “Back to You” (7 p.m., Fox).

¢ Fertility matters on “Private Practice” (8 p.m., ABC).

¢ “Biography” (8 p.m., Biography) profiles Denzel Washington.

¢ The guys take on the legend of a steam-powered Civil War-era machine gun on “Mythbusters” (8 p.m., Discovery).

¢ The documentary series “How It Was” (8 p.m., National Geographic) explores the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

¢ Illusionist Criss Angel (playing himself) becomes a suspect on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ Murder between consenting adults on “Life” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Karen’s affair with Tripp’s rival comes to light on “Dirty Sexy Money” (9 p.m., ABC).

¢ Nina Garcia challenges the team to turn a fashion “don’t” into a “do” on “Project Runway” (9 p.m., Bravo).

Cult choice

Homeless Depression-era youths ride boxcars with no direction home in the 1933 drama “Wild Boys of the Road” (8 p.m., TCM), directed by William Wellman.